CAMERON COLUMN: The best birthday present

I’m sorry, but there are ZERO shopping days left until my birthday.

Yep, this is the big day, as I turn old enough to run for public office. OK, cue laughter from the cheap seats.

Even though it’s Black Friday and you might be out buying presents, please don’t worry about your neighborhood columnist.

Nope, today I’m asking for only one gift, and it won’t cost you a dime.

I’d like you to take just a few minutes to understand what we do for a living as reporters, journalists, media members — pick whatever title you like.

That would be a terrific gift.

See, there is a growing trend, not just in America but throughout the world, to learn what’s happening in your city or your country with a quick peek at a computer or, more likely, the smartphone that is now permanently attached to some body part.

There are a million social media sites where it seems you can find out what’s going on — or at least what your friends THINK might be occurring, or what a site like Facebook WANTS you to believe is hot or scandalous news so you’ll keep reading while they sell ads.

TO BE perfectly honest, I’m a Facebook user and have been for a long time. I’ve lived and worked in different parts of the world, so I have friends and business colleagues here, there and everywhere.

Facebook is a fantastic way to keep in touch.

But Facebook and other social media sites — think of that very definition, focusing on the word “social” — are NOT news organizations.

Here at home, the Coeur d’Alene Press is what would be defined as part of the mainstream media.

What that means, in short, is that we cannot traffic in rumors or gossip or unfounded, sensational stories.

Unless something is clearly branded as opinion (like this column or our editorials), what you see in The Press — and other “mainstream news organizations” — is information that has been checked, re-checked, confirmed with sources and edited carefully to make sure we’re telling you the absolute truth as best we can find it.

THINK about that.

Contrast it with what you see on the internet. Heck, the first thing I noticed when I powered up my computer this morning was a fake ad that said: “Megyn Kelly gone at 45...”

It was a phony reference to the Fox news anchor who managed to anger Donald Trump. And no, Kelly has not “gone” anywhere.

That, in a nutshell, is the downside of social media. You have absolutely no idea who’s telling the truth about anything.

I suppose all this sounds like a promo for The Press, and if you live in North Idaho and care about what’s going on, I suppose it is.

It’s also a plea, if you want to stay properly informed, that you get your national or global news from neutral, established newspapers and TV networks that have proven over the years to be objective, fact-based platforms.

And the internet?

Have fun, joke with friends, share personal updates...

But don’t be fooled, because if you’re looking at social media, you are not looking at a news site.

We work very hard to get you the truth, and you’d make my birthday much happier if you’d think a second about the difference between REAL reporting and a business that just wants to borrow your eyeballs, hear those clicks and cash those checks.

Thanks, everyone, and now I’ll try to blow out all those candles.

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Steve Cameron is a special assignment reporter for The Press. Reach Steve at scameron@cdapress.com.